Sound Science

“PI is not simply a brain-training program. Besides enhancing the intellectual intelligence of the brain, Pl activates the anterior cingulate and the Von Economo neurons located in the anterior cingulate. Von Economo neurons are neurons of compassion. Schools practicing PI have reported dramatic changes in the behavior of the students. ”

– Dr. Pillai

PI and Brain Activation

Phonemes stimulate neuronal activity and strengthen the brain. PI techniques increase connectivity, and by the mechanism of neuroplasticity create new neural pathways, increasing intelligence. Through the use of pre-linguistic phonemes, the brain develops non-linear, non-linguistic forms of thought – enhancing intuition, innovation and creativity.

PI techniques focus on activating 5 targeted areas of the brain.

Five Categories of Brain Wave Patterns

Our brains are made up of brain cells called neurons. There are millions of neurons sending electrical signals throughout your brain at any given time. This energy can actually be detected and studied using medical equipment like the EEG (electroencephalography). The EEG is able to graph electrical activity of your brain, providing what is called a brain-wave pattern. Brain wave patterns are typically categorized in five ways.

Delta (0 - 4 HERTZ)

Deep sleep, loss of body awareness

Theta (4 - 8 HERTZ)

Dreaming sleep (REM), increased production of catecholamines and creativity

Alpha (8 – 12 HERTZ)

Beta (12 - 40 HERTZ)

Concentration, arousal, alertness, cognition

Gamma (40 -100 HERTZ)

Burst of insight, high-level information processing

World-Class EEG Brain Study

Research conducted at Brain Science International by co-founder Jay Gunkelman confirmed that PI activates a key area of the brain known as the Anterior Cingulate, which acts as a fulcrum that controls the activity between the frontal lobes and limbic system and also houses a special class of super-intelligent neurons called Von Economo neurons.

Phonemic Intelligence Research and Testing

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Ongoing Research

There are currently three ongoing Phonemic Intelligence studies taking place in the United States. Click on the PI Research Overview below to learn more.

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Published Medical Research

Medical students at SRM University in Chennai, India practiced PI for six weeks before their medical exams, resulting in improved academic scores, reduced stress hormones, and better coping skills (Indian Journal of Medical Science, 2010).

Phoneme = Intelligence

Our brains are born with the potential to learn all sounds and all languages

Neuroplasticity of the brain changes after birth to learning native languages and phonetic systems

Phonemic sounds survive the pre-linguistic to language stages of development

The same sounds that limit intelligence when used in language or word clusters, can reactivate our tremendous learning potential when used as sounds or phonemes.

Understanding Brain Waves More Fully

We spend most of our lives in the Beta state- aroused, alert, focused but also somewhat stressed. This is where using sound to activate brain waves and to activate dormant key parts of the brain comes into play. When we reduce our brain wave pattern to the Alpha frequency, we are at an ideal state to take in and process new information, perform more complicated tasks, and improve our focus. Additionally, the slightly decreased brain-wave frequency significantly increases the feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine and endorphins.

So for example, in a classroom setting, when children collectively participate in exercises that cause electrical patterns in their brain to slow down and relax, their brains are in a better state to learn, focus, and analyze- all while feeling a greater sense of calm and happiness. Likewise, when adults practice the PI techniques, they experience less stress, more focus, better productivity and the ability to perform better at work and make better decisions in their personal life.

Phoneme = Intelligence

Our brains are born with the potential to learn all sounds and all languages

Neuroplasticity of the brain changes after birth to learning native languages and phonetic systems

Phonemic sounds survive the pre-linguistic to language stages of development

The same sounds that limit intelligence when used in language or word clusters, can reactivate our tremendous learning potential when used as sounds or phonemes.

Understanding Brain Waves More Fully

We spend most of our lives in the Beta state- aroused, alert, focused but also somewhat stressed. This is where using sound to activate brain waves and to activate dormant key parts of the brain comes into play. When we reduce our brain wave pattern to the Alpha frequency, we are at an ideal state to take in and process new information, perform more complicated tasks, and improve our focus. Additionally, the slightly decreased brain-wave frequency significantly increases the feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine and endorphins.

So for example, in a classroom setting, when children collectively participate in exercises that cause electrical patterns in their brain to slow down and relax, their brains are in a better state to learn, focus, and analyze- all while feeling a greater sense of calm and happiness. Likewise, when adults practice the PI techniques, they experience less stress, more focus, better productivity and the ability to perform better at work and make better decisions in their personal life.